Off-Road Windshield Air Intake Layout for Clean Engine Air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Off-road vehicles, particularly side-by-side off-road vehicles, face challenges in supplying clean air to their engines and components due to the dusty and debris-laden off-road environment, and the installation of windshields can further obstruct air intake.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a windshield that is pivotable between a lowered and raised position, featuring a windshield recess or aperture that allows air to flow to an air intake conduit when the windshield is raised, ensuring unobstructed air supply to the engine and components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a windshield is installed to protect from wind and dust, then protection from wind and dust is improved, but air supply to the engine is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The windshield is made movable between a lowered position (providing protection) and a raised position (allowing air flow). This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to switch between protection mode and air supply mode based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The air intake conduit is positioned vertically above the windshield when raised, utilizing the vertical dimension to bypass the windshield's horizontal obstruction. This dimensional change allows air to flow over the windshield rather than being blocked by it.
2Quantity of substance
If the windshield is raised to allow air flow, then air supply to the engine is improved, but protection from wind and dust is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The movable windshield allows the system to dynamically switch between protection mode (lowered) and air supply mode (raised), resolving the contradiction by accepting that full protection and full air supply cannot coexist simultaneously but can be achieved at different operational states.
3Quantity of substance
If air intake components are added to supply clean air, then air quality for the engine is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The solution extracts only the essential air intake function by using a simple conduit that directs air from above the windshield, rather than implementing a complex filtration system. This resolves the contradiction by providing sufficient clean air through a minimalistic approach.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively addresses the challenge of air supply in off-road vehicles by ensuring that the air intake system remains functional even with a windshield installed, maintaining engine efficiency and preventing damage from dust and debris.
Implementation Method 1
in the raised position of the windshield, air flowing through the at least one of the windshield recess and the windshield aperture to be supplied to the conduit inlet of the air intake conduit
Data Source
AI summary
An off-road vehicle has: a frame including a rollover protection structure (ROPS); four wheels; at least one seat; an internal combustion engine operatively connected at least two of the wheels; a windshield movably connected to the ROPS, the windshield being movable between lowered and raised positions. The windshield defines at least one of: a windshield recess in a top edge of the windshield, and a windshield aperture near the top edge. An air intake conduit has a conduit inlet and a conduit outlet fluidly connected to an engine air intake system. The conduit inlet faces generally forward and is disposed at least in part vertically higher than the windshield in the lowered position. In the raised position of the windshield, air flows through the at least one of the windshield recess and the windshield aperture to be supplied to the conduit inlet of the air intake conduit.